lenomena 
; cells are 
ule acids, 
asm ofteu 
leid on to 
Thus von 
ial ulricle 
allisneria j 
ent with 
difficulty 
itill clung 
»pirogyra, 
fter such 
ially coa- 
however 
the living 
vledge of 
i strength 
exercised 
r er found 
lutions of 
n shrinks 
spherical 
•eriments 
al utricle 
amerable 
and in- 
asmolysis 
icing of a 
1 melhod 
form and 
It of the 
e to de- 
otoplasm 
the cell- 
ipzig 1877. 
IV. On the continuity of the protoplasra through the walls of vegetable cells. 77 
Wall, and is then frequently connected to the cell-wall by somevvhat thick 
Strands in addition to the tiner ones vvhich may also be present, but also 
that when the plasmolytic condition is more gradually induced by the use 
ol dilute Solutions the contracted protoplasmic body remains connected to 
the cell-wall by excessively fine Strands which may at first be invisible, but 
subsequently como into view. The former plasmolysis is that which was 
deseribed and observed by von Mohi., Nägeli, Piungsheim and Hofmeister. 
ln such instances the protoplasm sulfers very grave injury, as evidenced 
from the fact that if by washing with water, one attempts to bring back the 
protoplasm into its normal relation with the cell-wall, great displaccment 
of the general protoplasm and of the chlorophvll-grains occurs and the prolo- 
plasm further becomes swollen and disorganised. In the ease of the plas- 
molysis induced by dilute Solutions but little recognizable change is pro- 
duced and on washing out with water the cell assumes its ordinary normal 
oppearance. 
Naturally the phenomena produced in consequence of the action of 
stroug Sulphuric acid are due to plasmolysis in its coarsest form, but the 
same kind of plasmolysis may be partially induced even by Iess powerful 
reagents. Thus on treating a section of most tissues, e. g. a transverse sec- 
tion of the pulvinus of Phnseolus multiflorus with a 10 p. c. solution of common 
salt, the protoplasm will be observed to contract a«ay from the cell-wall 
Until finally it appears as a spherical mass which is connected to the cell- 
Wall by several fairly thick strings of protoplasm. 
ln other cases instead of contracting as one main mass, it may stick to 
the cell-wall at certain points, and in the subsequent contraction which 
ensues, it may become divided into two or even three masses of varying 
size. All these masses rapidly assume a spherical outline and it is usually 
easy to see, that they are connected to the cell-wall and to each other by 
obvious protoplasmic strings. The threads may either be perfectly uniform 
er mav exhibit höre and there a nodular thickening of a spherical form. 
Subsequently many more fine threads will come into view. If the salt be 
Washed out with water the protoplasm may again be brought to lill out the 
cell, but at the same time pronounced disorganisation of the protoplasm is 
observed to have taken place and obvious abnormal swelling also occurs. 
An examination of the cells of Spirogyra when thus treated will at once 
convince one that this is actually the case, since here the distortion and 
displaccment of the chlorophylle bands is very obvious, and marked. 
If however the plasmolysis be brought about with a 5p.c. salt solution 
Hie contraction of the protoplasm is much more gradual. It contracts with 
great regularity into a single rounded mass and usually appears at first to 
be perfectly free from the cell-wall. Hut after a time there gradually appears 
as Bo wer well observes "a faint striation in the space betwecn the proto- 
Plasmic body and the cell-wall running in a radiating manner between 
